Mixtape: Best of Industrial Vol. 2

Hey everyone and welcome to another Mixtape! Two in two weeks, they're coming like buses! Over seven years ago I did my first "Best of Industrial" Mixtape. You can find that link here. At the time I was struggling to create that Mixtape, reason being that while I love the genre, there weren't that many bands that I knew and loved beyond the obvious. Choosing around 20 artists of this genre isn't easy, certainly those of good quality. Yet the sound in its pure form is just beautiful. It's hard to put into words.

Anyway, doing this Part 2, seven years later was so much easier. I can't again explain why either. Perhaps my palette has increased for the genre? But it was always there and I've always loved it. As I said it's hard to explain!

Not familiar with the term Industrial? I'll copy and past what I put down in my Volume 1 because I explained it relatively well then.

The roots of Industrial music started in the seventies and with the Industrial Records company, but they weren't really successful, nor was the sound. But it inspired the "Post-Industrial" genre, what we now know as Industrial music. So if you're an Industrial purist, you could say that the list below is not Industrial music, but Post-Industrial music. I will continue to consider this Mixtape and the songs and sound as Industrial music, but let's not be ignorant to the original genre of the seventies. There's so many influences that helped made the genre, and there are so many influences from Industrial music that helped shape music today.

So what have I defined as Industrial below? Well, after the seventies Industrial Records scene, Industrial (or Post-Industrial) roots back to the early eighties. Arguably the first Post-Industrial band was Skinny Puppy, but of course, there were bands that influenced Skinny Puppy to make the sound they made, and there were a few bands around that time that while aren't Industrial as a sole genre, they also helped to the rise. Bands like Killing Joke, Bauhaus, Ministry, KMFDM and Kraftwerk are all bands that in some way, shape or form, helped Industrial music to become what it has been in the eighties, nineties and naughties.

But, and you can argue I'm biased in saying this, but to me, the band that pioneered Industrial music is Nine Inch Nails. A lot of the 1980s Industrial lacked melody, it sounded great but it was repetitive and became almost brainless music. But Nine Inch Nails added melody, added quality vocals and also started using ground breaking electronic metal music to add to the machinery sound that was Industrial music. As I said, I could be biased, as Nine Inch Nails are my favourite band.

Not familiar with my Mixtapes? Here are the rules.

A Mixtape is a playlist of a certain genre, band or era. The list is generally 80 minutes long, the same length of a blank CD, with further recommendations if some of the songs aren't to your taste. Remember kids, downloading is wrong! 

This list you'll see below isn't just Industrial music. It's a celebration of the sound, and the sounds that have been influenced by Industrial music. Industrial music has been used in so many genres since the boring machine sound of the eighties, it's used in dance music, techno, alternative rock, indie, metal and most recently, dubstep. You name the genre, chances are Industrial had an assist in there for making the genre what it is today. So there's a lot of bands here that aren't Industrial. But I've selected certain songs by those bands, that have roots from the Industrial genre, and have them showcase how good the sound can be when done perfectly. I have some eighties industrial, nineties industrial, some electronic dance music and some heavy industrial metal.

Enjoy my second homage to Industrial music!

1. Mr Self Destruct - Nine Inch Nails
2. Hooker With a Penis - Tool
3. Death - Skinny Puppy
4. Flesh is the Law - Genitorturers
5. Shut Me Up - Mindless Self Indulgence
6. More and Faster (243) - KMFDM
7. Electric Head Pt 2 - White Zombie
8. Hey Man, Nice Shot - Filter
9. Do What I Say - Clawfinger
10. QWERTY - Mushroomhead
11. Rammstein - Rammstein
12. My Wall (feat Excision and Downlink) - KoRn
13. Bombshell - Powerman 5000
14. Verta Ja Lihaa - Turmion Katilot
15. BBB - How to Destroy Angels
16. Angel With the Scabbed Wings - Marilyn Manson
17. Just One Fix - Ministry
18. Sucked In - Jerk
19. Linchpin - Fear Factory
20. Get to the Gone - Static-X
21. Rock and Roll (In a Black Hole) - Rob Zombie

Don't like some of these? Give these five a try...

1. Zerospace - Kidneythieves
2. Guilty - Gravity Kills
3. Fukken Uber Death Party - Hanzel und Gretel
4. Eye - Smashing Pumpkins
5. Golgotha Tenement Blues - Machines of Loving Grace

To listen to the playlist on YouTube click here!

So I hope you enjoy this list. As I said, some of these bands are not Industrial, but I hope you understand their inclusion in the list. They have roots from the genre, and like to implement it into their modern sounds.

Until next time, take care!

For the latest updates on my work, follow me on Facebook and Twitter here!

Mixtape: Best Cover Versions Vol. 2

Hi everyone, it's been a while since I posted on this site, and it's been even longer since I did an official Mixtape! I haven't done a Mixtape in five and a half years, crazy! Anyway, in case you're not sure what a Mixtape is, here's an explanation...

A Mixtape is a playlist of a certain genre, band or era. The list is generally 80 minutes long, the same length of a blank CD, with further recommendations if some of the songs aren't to your taste. Remember kids, downloading is wrong! 

Back in 2011 I did a Mixtape of my favourite cover versions, and, looking back on it, it's a very good list and I agree with most of my suggestions on the list. But, in the past 7 years there have been some belters that have come out, and, also, looking back on the list from 2011, I did miss out on some amazing cover versions. So I decided to do a Volume 2 of my favourite cover versions! Now, this list is probably just as good as Volume 1 so check them both out if you get time - to find the first list simply click here.

Before I begin I'd just like to rule out artists that do cover versions predominantly as an artist, like Weird Al Yankovic, who does parodies of songs, and Richard Cheese, who does amazing jazz versions of songs. If you've never heard the work of Richard Cheese, seriously, give the guy a listen, he's absolutely phenomenal and funny, let this song get you started. One more thing, linked below are the songs and if you click on the original artists (which are bracketed) you can listen to the originals, if I can find them. Anyway, onto the Mixtape!

1. Band on the Run - Foo Fighters (Paul McCartney and Wings)
2. My Girl - Jesus and Mary Chain (The Temptations)
3. Those Were the Days - Mary Hopkin (Tamara Tsereteli)
4. Hurt - Johnny Cash (Nine Inch Nails)
5. Danger Zone - Psychostick (Kenny Loggins)
6. Jack the Ripper - The Horrors (Screaming Lord Sutch)
7. Rawhide - The Meteors (Frankie Laine)
8. I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) - Toy Dolls (The Proclaimers)
9. How I Could Just Kill a Man - Rage Against the Machine (Cypress Hill)
10. Rise of the Eagles - The Prodigy (The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster)
11. Memorabilia - Nine Inch Nails (Soft Cell)
12. Black Betty - Spiderbait (Ram Jam)
13. The Sound of Silence - Disturbed (Simon and Garfunkel)
14. Thieves - Limp Bizkit (Ministry)
15. Five to One - Marilyn Manson (The Doors)
16. United Forces - Ministry (Stormtroopers of Death)
17. Rise - Jerk (Public Image Limited)
18. Loverman - Metallica (Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds)

Some of these not to your taste? Here's five alternatives...

1. Zombie - Breed 77 (The Cranberries)
2. Kidnap the Sandy Claws - KoRn (Danny Elfman)
3. Love Buzz - Nirvana (Shocking Blue)
4. Golden Ticket - Primus (Jack Albertson and Peter Ostrum)
5. Baby, I Love You - Ramones (The Ronettes)

To listen to the playlist on YouTube click here!

Well I hope you enjoyed this list. I tried to pick different songs that people may not have heard, or have considered before. Who knows, I might make Vol. 3 in another seven years time! Until next time, take care.

For the latest updates on my work, follow me on Facebook and Twitter here!

The Rock and Metal Double Feature Show Christmas 2013 Special 20/12/13

Why hello there. Back again with another show I am. Don't know why I'm writing like Yoda. Anyways, this show is a Christmas Special. It's a mixture of Rock and Christmas themed songs, then Metal and Christmas themed songs.

Any feedback is appreciated if you listen to the show, the link is below!

The Rock and Metal Double Feature Show Christmas 2013 Special (20/12/13) by Johnny Mercyside on Mixcloud

The Rock and Metal Double Feature Show Christmas 2013 Special: 20/12/13

Track listing:
The Rock Show
Proper Crimbo - Bo Selecta
No Particular Place to Go - Chuck Berry
Here Comes Santa Claus - Gene Autry
Bad to the Bone - George Thorogood
Stop the Cavalry - Jona Lewie
Train in Vain - The Clash
Power of Love - Frankie Goes to Hollywood
Supersonic - Oasis
2000 Miles - The Pretenders
Breed - Nirvana
Christmas Day - She and Him
Lucky You - The Lightning Seeds
I Don't Care - Fall Out Boy
Fairytale in New York - The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl

The Metal Hour
Paradise City - Guns 'n' Roses
Christmas Time (Don't Let The Bells End) = The Darkness
I Was Made for Lovin' You - KISS
Highway to Hell - AC/DC
Whiskey in the Jar - Metallica
Break Stuff - Limp Bizkit
Everywhere I Go - Hollywood Undead
Santa Claws is Coming to Town - Alice Cooper
The Biggest and the Best - Clawfinger
Kidnap the Sandy Claws - KoRn
Sucked In - Jerk
Redneck - Lamb of God
Walking Corpse - Brutal Truth
X-M@$ - Corey Taylor

Merry Christmas everyone!

Other entries you might want to read:
The Rock and Metal Double Feature Show (14/12/13) - DJ Show
Download Festival Special Show - DJ Show
The Rock and Metal Double Feature Show (30/11/13) - DJ Show

For the latest updates on my work, follow me on Facebook and Twitter here!

Mixtape: Best of Teenage Angst II

Hey there and welcome to another one of my Mixtapes. This is different however. This is the first time I've remade a Mixtape. Best of Teenage Angst II? Yes, because six years ago I made the Best of Teenage Angst. It was one of my first ever Mixtapes, possibly even the first. Click here to see it.


So why have I remade my Mixtape? Well I listened to it recently and looked at the list of songs, and I just thought it looked wrong. It looked a little dated in some ways; some of the songs were popular back in 2006 and have not really been as good. Obviously songs from the eighties live on, but modern songs die quickly, some of them do anyway. And also, I was looking at some of the songs and wondering what the logic was behind their selections? Johnny Mercyside of six years ago made some odd choices. For instance, why "Killing in the Name" by Rage Against the Machine? That song isn't a song about teenage angst. Is it a rebellion 'fuck you' song? Yes. But that's because they're sticking two fingers up at a lot of problems with the world. They weren't whining about things that weren't fair for kids. They were being adults. I could talk about other songs that aren't in the new list but I'd be here for a while.


So this is the NEW Best of Teenage Angst. New and improved. What is the logic behind the selections of these songs? Well either the lyrical content is a little immature, or aimed at young teenagers. Songs like "I Hate People" by Anti-Nowhere League is an example about how silly the lyrical content is. But then you have "I'm Eighteen" by Alice Cooper in here, a song that deals with the dilemmas of teenage life. "I'm a boy and I'm a man, I'm eighteen and I get confused everyday". So hopefully that explains it.


Don't know much about Mixtapes? Here are the rules. 


A Mixtape is a playlist of a certain genre, band or era. The list is generally 80 minutes long, the same length of a blank CD, with further recommendations if some of the songs aren't to your taste. Remember kids, downloading is wrong! 


So here we go! Best of Teenage Angst II! Also, this Mixtape is now available to listen to fully on YouTube so subscribe to me if you want to listen to it properly.

1. Fight for Your Right - Beastie Boys
2. I Don't Want to Grow Up - The Ramones
3. Don't Dictate - Penetration
4. Anarchy in the U.K. - Sex Pistols
5. I Hate People - Anti-Nowhere League
6. Institutionalized - Suicidal Tendencies
7. I'm Eighteen - Alice Cooper
8. United States of Whatever - Liam Lynch
9. Threw it on the Ground - The Lonely Island
10. Creep - Radiohead
11. Get Free - The Vines
12. She Hates Me - Puddle of Mudd
13. Break Stuff - Limp Bizkit
14. Last Resort - Papa Roach
15. I'm So Sad, So Very Very Sad/We Hate You Please Die - Crash and the Boys
16. I Love to Say Fuck - The Murderdolls
17. Right Now - KoRn
18. I Hate People Like That - Jerk
19. I Don't Wanna Be Me - Type O Negative
20. The Biggest and the Best - Clawfinger
21. Walk - Pantera
22. Duality - Slipknot
23. Die MF Die - Dope
24. Down with the Sickness - Disturbed

Don't like some of these? Give these five a try...

1. My Generation - The Who
2. You'll Rebel to Anything - Mindless Self Indulgence
3. Killin' Me - Drowning Pool
4. Sic Transit Gloria… Glory Fades - Brand New
5. Everywhere I Go - Hollywood Undead

Red Font - Was in 'Best of Teenage Angst I'

Orange Font - Artist was featured in 'Best of Teenage Angst I', but song has changed

So that's the new and improved Best of Teenage Angst! What songs can you think of that makes you think of teenage life, for good or bad? Comment below. Also do you think it's a better list of songs? Let me know. That's it from me, have a good day!

For the latest updates on my work, 'like' me on Facebook here!

Mixtape: Best of Industrial

Note: I've added that second paragraph below when someone corrected me about the term 'Industrial'. I apologise if I offended anyone, hopefully the rectification makes sense.

Hey there and welcome to another one of my Mixtapes. Now, this Mixtape was really hard to compile, that's why it's a day late. Why? Because Industrial music is really hard to tab down. There's so many influences that helped made the genre, and there are so many influences from Industrial music that helped shape music today.

The roots of Industrial music started in the seventies and with the Industrial Records company, but they weren't really successful, nor was the sound. But it inspired the "Post-Industrial" genre, what we now know as Industrial music. So if you're an Industrial purist, you could say that the list below is not Industrial music, but Post-Industrial music. I will continue to consider this Mixtape and the songs and sound as Industrial music, but let's not be ignorant to the original genre of the seventies.


So what have I defined as Industrial below? Well, after the seventies Industrial Records scene, Industrial (or Post-Industrial) roots back to the early eighties. Arguably the first Post-Industrial band was Skinny Puppy, but of course, there were bands that influenced Skinny Puppy to make the sound they made, and there were a few bands around that time that while aren't Industrial as a sole genre, they also helped to the rise. Bands like Killing Joke, Bauhaus, Ministry, KMFDM and Kraftwerk are all bands that in some way, shape or form, helped Industrial music to become what it has been in the eighties, nineties and naughties.

But, and you can argue I'm biased in saying this, but to me, the band that pioneered Industrial music is Nine Inch Nails. A lot of the 1980s Industrial lacked melody, it sounded great but it was repetitive and became almost brainless music. But Nine Inch Nails added melody, added quality vocals and also started using ground breaking electronic metal music to add to the machinery sound that was Industrial music. As I said, I could be biased, as Nine Inch Nails are my favourite band.


Not familiar with my Mixtapes? Here are the rules.

A Mixtape is a playlist of a certain genre, band or era. The list is generally 80 minutes long, the same length of a blank CD, with further recommendations if some of the songs aren't to your taste. Remember kids, downloading is wrong! 

This list you'll see below isn't just Industrial music. It's a celebration of the sound, and the sounds that have been influenced by Industrial music. Industrial music has been used in so many genres since the boring machine sound of the eighties, it's used in dance music, techno, alternative rock, indie, metal and most recently, dubstep. You name the genre, chances are Industrial had an assist in there for making the genre what it is today. So there's a lot of bands here that aren't Industrial. But I've selected certain songs by those bands, that have roots from the Industrial genre, and have them showcase how good the sound can be when done perfectly. I have some eighties industrial, nineties industrial, some electronic dance music and some heavy industrial metal. Enjoy my homage to Industrial music.

1. I'm Deranged - David Bowie
2. Parasite - How to Destroy Angels
3. Break - Saul Williams
4. Comprachicos - Pendulum
5. Pro-test - Skinny Puppy
6. Inside - Gravity Kills
7. Stinkfist - Tool
8. Jesus Built My Hotrod - Ministry
9. After the Flesh - My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult
10. More Human Than Human - White Zombie
11. The Everlasting Gaze - Smashing Pumpkins
12. Vena Cava - Angelspit
13. Tight - Mindless Self Indulgence
14. Feuer Frei! - Rammstein
15. The Biggest and the Best - Clawfinger
16. When Worlds Collide - Powerman 5000
17. Wrong - Jerk
18. Die MF Die - Dope
19. The Great Destroyer - Nine Inch Nails
20. Demonoid Phenomenon - Rob Zombie
21. Burning Flag - Marilyn Manson

Don't like some of these? Give these five a try...

1. Let's Go - KoRn
2. Break You Down - Godhead and Marilyn Manson
3. Start a War - Static-X
4. Zerospace - Kidneythieves
5. New Disease - Spineshank

So I hope you enjoy this list. As I said, some of these bands are not Industrial, but I hope you understand their inclusion in the list. They have roots from the genre, and like to implement it into their modern sounds.

For the latest updates on my work, 'like' me on Facebook here!

Noughtie: My 100 Favourite Songs of the Decade (Part 9)

Overall Favourite Artists | Best of 2000 | Overall Least Favourite Artists | Best of 2001

Where Are They Now? | Best of 2002 | Best New Artists | Best of 2003 | My Guilty Pleasures
Best of 2004 | My Favourite Riffs | Best of 2005 | Underrated Artists | Best of 2006
 My Favourite Albums | Best of 2007 | Best Videos | Best of 2008 | Most Important Artists
Best of 2009 | 100 Favourite Songs of the Decade | 100 Most Important Songs of the Decade

To view part 1, click here.

To view part 2, click here.
To view part 3, click here.
To view part 4, click here.
To view part 5, click here.
To view part 6, click here.
To view part 7, click here.
To view part 8, click here.

Here we go, the Johnny Mercyside official Top 20 is upon us. Here are my favourite 20 songs of the last decade. As I said at the end of yesterdays post, a lot of these songs are of the metal genre, I love my metal, but unfortunately it’s getting harder and harder to find decent bands that can play heavy music well. Anyway lets countdown from #20 to #11.

#20. “Turn Me On Mr. Deadman” – The Union Underground

Released: 18/7/00

Album: An Education in Rebellion

"I'd bet my bottom dollar this band will be around 10 years from now." - John Kalodner, the man who signed The Union Underground, the same man who found Foreigner, AC/DC, Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins

I thought I’d put up that quote. This band was going places. They had a great label, a highly reputable man working with them, a great sound. As I said, this band were better than the other metal bands around at the time, Drowning Pool, Disturbed, the lot. They were better. But then they split. There’s no reasons to why they split, they just did. It’s so frustrating when you see talented bands call it a day when you see other less talented bands have the spots these bands thoroughly deserve. If you don’t believe me when I say that this band is better than the others, listen to this song. It kicks fucking ass. That being said, I do have Disturbed and Drowning Pool featured in this listing so I want to emphasise, as bands a inferior to The Union Underground. But yes, they have also done some fantastic songs, as you will see later on.

#19. “Dance Commander” – Electric Six

Released: 13/10/03

Album: Fire

You must obey the Dance Commander! How can anyone not like this song? It’s by far the best of the three singles Electric Six brought out off their debut album. It really sounds great too; it’s one of their heaviest songs. But the lyrics are so funny, and the video of course is just awesome. Gay Bar may be a slightly better video, but this is definitely the best track. I absolutely love the Dance Commander, and shall obey him and all his orders. Amen.

#18. “Renegades of Funk” – Rage Against the Machine

Released: 21/11/00

Album: Renegades

Rage released two singles in this decade and they both make this list. Tells you all about the quality, not only of their songs in general, but their cover versions. They are rumoured to be thinking about making a new album and you know something, I’d embrace that. When you hear of certain artists say after a long time out “we’re gonna make a new album!” you have your suspicious. Yet Rage are a one in a million band, and I think they have a certain quality that no other band can match. Renegades of Funk is the epitome of that. They’ve made it their song, they’ve took the original by Afrika Bambaataa and throttled it, and turned it into this metal rap classic. I love this song and hope Rage can make a new album.

#17. “No Pussy Blues” – Grinderman

Released: 19/2/07

Album: Grinderman

I don’t know how much you know about Grinderman, Nick Cave’s new sister band. The best way to describe them is that they’re exactly the same band as The Bad Seeds, but with the old punk vibes from The Birthday Party. It’s like the two bands met for drinks and Nick Cave merged the inspiration of one and put them into the other. No Pussy Blues is a fantastic song, a very noisy song, yet it’s just great. The best thing about it is definitely the lyrics, the man that Nick Cave speaks of tries to hard to band this lady, yet “she never wants to”. He tries really really hard, and does everything for her, and she still “never wants to”. Nick Cave got asked in an interview if there was any other meaning to the song and he responded, "No, it's just about not getting any pussy." Great stuff, seriously, give it a listen above.

#16. “Starfuckers, Inc” – Nine Inch Nails

Released: 2/5/00

Album: The Fragile

Listings: Best Videos

Starsuckers was the censored single. But Starfuckers, has already been covered on this site in the Best Videos listing. The story is very simple, Trent Reznor, the man behind NIN, doesn’t speak much in interviews about artists he has been associated with in the past. So this is basically a statement against all those artists who went to the press and ripped his name to pieces, primarily Marilyn Manson of course. So Trent vented all his frustrations into this song. And what a song it is. It’s definitely the best single off The Fragile, and is often played in their live sets. It’s just a brilliant song. Also, NIN is the last artist to have three songs featured in this listing with the third entry being the highest, this one, at #16.

#15. “I Hate People Like That” – Jerk

Released: 18/11/02

Album: When Pure is Defiled

I’ve said it before, Jerk are nothing original, yet they have a sound that I thoroughly enjoy. Basically a Manson ripoff with immature lyrics, Jerk sound like the type of band I’d really dislike. However I really like their only album release and this was the primary single released off it. And no matter how silly the lyrics are, the song just sounds really good. It’s one of those stereotypical industrial metal songs but I just somehow enjoy love listening to it. It’s just hard to explain.

#14. “Vicinity of Obscenity” – System of a Down

Released: Hypnotize

Album: 29/5/06

I never knew this was released as a single until I did my research and saw it as such. Hypnotise for me, is SOADs worst album. By quite some distance as well. It just feels like SOAD went emo and this was the end result. But “Vicinity” was definitely my favourite track off the album, as it’s the type of song you’d expect to hear on say “Toxicity”. It’s just completely random hard hitting awesomeness, the type of song that you’d hear on their earlier material. The lyrics are random, funny and yet there is a hiding message amongst the odd lyrics. It’s just a fantastic song, with seemingly random shouts of “Banana, banana, banana, terracotta, banana, banana, banana, terracotta pie!” It’s brilliant.

#13. “Bombshell” – Powerman 5000

Released: Unknown, 2001

Album: Anyone for Doomsday?

“GET UP! GET UP! GET UP! DROP THE BOMBSHELL!” Man this song really kicks ass. It’s definitely one of the best metal songs of the decade, and it really should be more popular than it was. It’s the type of song that really should be a metal anthem yet for some reason no one really heard it. Seriously, if you like your metal anthems listen to this. I heard this song as it was the Dudley Boyz’ theme back in the early noughties in their time in the WWE. It was also on the Evolution soundtrack. It’s a great song, its nonsense heavy metal with a brilliant chorus. It’s simple yet fucking awesome.

#12. “Capital G” – Nine Inch Nails

Released: 11/6/07

Album: Year Zero

A lot of NIN fans including myself think that the start of “Capital G” is a discreet hidden homage to the king of pop, Michael Jackson. It sounds convincingly like the start of “The Way You Make Me Feel” it’s too close to say otherwise. But the rest of the song is Trent Reznor mixing his industrial sound with electronic synth of the late eighties. It just sounds so funky and cool and the lyrics are badass too. The song is about a man with a lot of power, if it’s God or Government, or George (Bush) who knows boasting about having this power; not giving a shit about anything that is lower than him and claiming how stupid it is for people to suggest that having power corrupts people as they have never even experienced it. It’s just everything about this song, it’s just perfect.

#11. “Shut Me Up” – Mindless Self Indulgence

Released: 12/9/06

Album: You’ll Rebel to Anything

Listings: Best Videos

The song got that so many people to notice this little odd industrial/punk/rap/electronic band just marginally fails to make my Top 10. They’ve done some fantastic songs, before this hit and after, but nothing will sound as perfect as this one. Nothing will grab the attention of so many people as this one. It was just released at the right time with the right music video and it got the attention that they deserved many years ago. Shut Me Up is a song that I think metal fans will remember for a long time because it just sounds so good. “I like my coffee black, just like my metal” is simply one of the best lyrics of the decade. MSI did so much right in this song and the video alongside it makes it even better. Seriously, if you like your metal like you like your coffee (… that doesn’t sound right but never mind) then give this song a go. The song, the video, are just fantastic.

That brings us closure to the ninety songs that miss out on my Top 10. Tomorrow you’ll see what songs I absolutely fell in love with, the ten songs that shaped my decade musically. A lot of them are metal as I said, but I do have some hard rock in there too. Take care and I hope you come back tomorrow.



To view part 10, click here.

Noughtie: My Favourite Albums - Part 1

Overall Favourite Artists | Best of 2000 | Overall Least Favourite Artists | Best of 2001

Where Are They Now? | Best of 2002 | Best New Artists | Best of 2003 | My Guilty Pleasures
Best of 2004 | My Favourite Riffs | Best of 2005 | Underrated Artists | Best of 2006
 My Favourite Albums | Best of 2007 | Best Videos | Best of 2008 | Most Important Artists
Best of 2009 | 100 Favourite Songs of the Decade | 100 Most Important Songs of the Decade

Here we are, Part 15 of the Noughtie series. This is the beginning of the bigger listings, more important listings. I said the last two are the biggest, but there's a big five and a massive two in that five in honesty. This will be in two parts, and I'll post this today and tomorrow.

Here are in my opinion, the best twenty albums of the decade. It's a biased listing, so naturally the artists that you have seen a lot of in these Mixtapes and listings will be featured. I mean they are my favourite artists for a reason. There's only one rule here, and that is a one album per artist cap. So as great as all of Muse's albums were, only one is allowed on this list, the same applies to all the artists.

So let's count down from #20 to #11!

20. "Meds" by Placebo

Released: 13/3/06

Rating: **** stars

Stand-out tracks: "Space Monkey", "Meds", "Infra-Red"

It was between "Meds" and "Sleeping With Ghosts" for me, although I'm sure traditional Placebo fans would disagree entirely. I think they're both brilliant albums but this one just pips it for me. Placebo are one of those very good artists that just aren't great, that's my humble opinion anyway, sorry for insulting any Placebo fans out there. But they're a consistent band who make consistently good music. My favourite track on the album is "Space Monkey" I don't know why, I just think it sounds really cool.

19. "The Marshall Mathers LP" by Eminem

Released: 23/5/00

Rating: **** stars

Stand-out tracks: "Kim", "Marshall Mathers" "The Way I Am"

This is definitely Eminem's best album, he really hit home with this. There was a lot of pressure on the guy, at the time he was quite new to the whole mainstream success thing and everyone wanted to know how he could follow up his previous album. Well he delivered very well with this. It's got arguably his most controversial song to date on here with "Kim", if you like it or not, it's a powerful message to his off and on wife and makes very hard hearing. I do love that song however, but can thoroughly understand why some people hate it. This album had some very good non-singled tracks on it, another good one is "Marshall Mathers" where he once again explains that he's just like everybody else and doesn't see himself as anything special. This is a fantastic rap album and if you have been thinking of what Eminem album to start with, get this one.

18. "Tenacious D" by Tenacious D

Released: 25/9/01

Rating: **** stars

Stand-out tracks: "Double Team", "Lee", "Tribute"

Tenacious D's debut album will probably not be beat by the duo, it was a gathering of their musical and comedic talents from the past merged into album form. The songs were short and funny, and their skits were hilarious. My favourite skit is probably "Inward Singing" but they're all good. This album is full of silly fun and it's quite hard to describe it in a short paragraph, other than if you've heard Jack Black and Kyle Gass' band in the past and like it, you'll like their albums. Great stuff.

17. "When Pure is Defiled" by Jerk

Released: 18/4/03

Rating: ****1/4 stars

Stand-out tracks: "Wrong", "I Hate People Like That", "My Friends All Lie"

I've mentioned this band a few times now, this is their first and only album and it's very good if you like industrial metal, Manson and NIN influenced style. It's a very similar sound to that of Marilyn Manson and they may be ripping him off slightly, but it's very good. It's one of the heaviest albums in my collection and it's good to play loud if you're in the mood. Their album tracks are very good, probably my favourite being "Wrong", and "My Friends All Lie". This is despite their lyrics being a bit petty and immature.

16. "if" by Mindless Self Indulgence

Released: 28/4/08

Rating: ****1/4 stars

Stand-out tracks: "Get It Up", "On It", "Mastermind"

It was difficult choosing an MSI album because they're all **** or ****1/4 stars in honesty but I've gone with this one. The reason being it's their most mature album. That being said this is a very immature band, but that's not insulting, they produce great music with silly lyrics intentionally, or at least that's the impression I get. I've said it before, but Mindless Self Indulgence are like no other band around today they have a very unique sound and make music in their own way. I have a lot of time for this band. The only snag is why the fuck Lyn-Z won't divorce her husband and take an interest in me. WHY!?!!

She'll learn eventually.

15. "Ima Robot" by "Ima Robot"

Released: 6/9/03

Rating: ****1/4 stars

Stand-out tracks: "Dirty Life", "Song #2", "Dynomite"

Ima Robot haven't really been talked about much on this site. They've appeared on the 2003 Mixtape with "Dynomite" but that's it. Let's clear something up. Ima Robot's self titled debut album, is a brilliant piece of work. It's catchy, it's punky, it sounds a treat. But... that was it. Ima Robot released a second album three years later. I downloaded it with excitement and it was a major bomb for me. It was just lifeless it felt. All the spunk, all the imagination from the first album just disappeared. I mean, they still have a decent fan base so I'm probably in the minority really. But their first album was just a firecracker, but it seems like they want to go into a different direction for their music. Each to their own I suppose.

14. "Drink Me" by QueenAdreena

Released: 24/6/02

Rating: ****1/4 stars

Stand-out tracks: "A Bed of Roses", "Pretty Like Drugs", "Under a Floorboard World"

QueenAdreena are a bit of an enigma in honesty, they're another one of those bands that have a relatively unique sound. KatieJane Garside's vocals can't be replicated, put it that way. This album, like a lot of KatieJane's songs, are full of emotions, from angry to sadness, she can probably do the whole spectrum. The music is noisy, or timid, or it can blend the two in the same song. It's just a brilliant album, I thoroughly enjoy listening to it.

13. "Death by Sexy" by The Eagles of Death Metal

Released: 11/4/06

Rating: ****1/4 stars

Stand-out tracks: "Solid Gold", "Don't Speak (I Came to Make a Bang)", "Chase the Devil"

This album is great, it's definitely EoDM's best. The first was okay, but it felt uneventful really, and the third hasn't been able to captivate on this beast of an album. I haven't chosen any of the singles as a stand out track, I mean they do stand out but I really enjoy those three tracks there more than their singles. You may have heard "Don't Speak" before, if you paid attention to any Nike adverts a good two or three years ago. It's a brilliant advert, it's below if you haven't. Anyway, this album is full of great tracks and Jesse Hughes' vocals are great.

 

12. "An Education in Rebellion" by The Union Underground

Released: 18/7/00

Rating: ****1/4 stars

Stand-out tracks: "Turn Me On Mr. Deadman" "South Texas Deathride", "Killing the Fly"

 

It's such a shame this band disbanded after one full album. But I've talked about that a few times already, there's no need to do it again. An Education in Rebellion was one of the best debut albums I've ever heard, and it still rocks hard today, I listened to it about a week ago. Man, this band had so much talent, it was a such a good band, the only thing I dislike really are the many references to drug use, but then again it's the norm nowadays, unfortunately. I really think you should give this band a go if you like the metal bands of the early Noughties, I think they were the best of the influx around then.

11. "Hot Action Cop" by Hot Action Cop

Released: 4/3/03

Rating: ****1/4 stars

Stand-out tracks: "Doom Boom", "Fever for the Flava", "In a Little While"

Hot Action Cop's debut funk/rap/rock album is a real treat. It's got a great sound, mixing so many different genres, if I were to put it to two band influences it'd be "Red Hot Chili Peppers" and "The Bloodhound Gang". Their lyrics are very dirty minded yet quite funny, they're very similar to Bloodhound Gang actually the more I think about it. Yet, they can do nice songs when they want to, a great example is "In a Little While" which is a really nice way to end a hard rock album. It's a very good album and one of my favourites of the decade.

Part two is found here.

So there's part 1 of this listing. Part 2 will be up tomorrow, where I'll countdown my favourite 10 albums of the decade. See you then.